Walkabout: [Shortly after their arrival]

[professorwolf]

Randolph Lyall here. Anybody else dropped into the noisy arcade? Or were most of us lucky enough to wind up in a hotel room or a lobby? Can we have a check-in?

Also, anybody else stuck with animal ears and a tail, or aged up or down? I've heard about a Jaunt much like this place, a while back, though I wasn't here for it: a school for anime magic, basically. Sparkles and animal ears and flowers coming out of nowhere. All the symptoms I'm seeing seem to be lining up for that world.

I'm still working out what's going on. It seems like some kind of multiple-school event, from the signs and the brochure handily in my pocket. I'm even wearing a badge for one of them, so I suppose I'm some kind of representative. The aging up doesn't go all the way up to adults, and I haven't changed any.

Comments

[happyhalloween]

I'm big now! I think I'm in high school!

... do you think there's going to be a test? I didn't study for any high school tests.

[awitchdidit]

Typical Trumps. You have the one thing that's guaranteed to stop you aging happen to you and they find a way around it.

[happyhalloween]

I think it's kind of nice! I can look people in the eye now! Maybe they'll listen to me?

[littleladyluck]

I'm here as a student! Seemingly not aged down, and feeling a bit insulted because of it. I mean, good, my skin is fantastic, but still! The height hels, I suppose.

I was here the first time. I think. Unless this is the third. Keep an eye and an ear out for Lovers, and maybe, perhaps, compliment my Hosts? They need more compliments, the poor darlings. I'll explain later.

[professorwolf]

Hosts? What do you mean by hosts?

[That would be one aspect of anime he's never actually learned about, there, and nobody filled him in on the host club for the last Jaunt.]

[littleladyluck]

Amusing people entertaining bored classmates for fun and incredibly minor profit. Most of it went towards fundraisers and back into the club because we provided snacks and such. It's all very sweet and innocent compared to some of the ones I've heard of outside of schools.

It was started by an overlay of Alcuin's, actually. He's seemingly transferred out of the school, so Alcuin isn't in this Jaunt.

[rustyhonesty]

I haven't been aged down, but I do have ears and a tail. [It's annoying, he can't get rid of them at all.] I'm a student, apparently.

[professorwolf]

I do, as well, so you aren't alone in that. Student is probably for the best, less will be expected of you. I'm starting to think I'm actually meant to be a teacher for this one school. Mahou Kagaku no Gakuen.

[It comes across the network as a little awkward, since he's using a foreign language here, and he hasn't practiced saying the name yet.]

[rustyhonesty]

I guess? I wouldn't know what to teach, if I had been given a position. I'm in a different school though. Hagane no Gakuen... or something.


Uh, since you also have animal parts... Do you also have difference in your senses? I seem to hear and smell better, at least.

[awitchdidit]

...I don't think I've picked up any embarrassing additions, although I do note my words are hitting with more of the force I'm used to. Literally.

I am currently in a hotel lobby. I've never been to a convention before, but I'm pretty sure this matches up to the description of one.

[professorwolf]

Magic here works from emotions, so that may be one aspect of how yours is manifesting. I believe it's called x tech? S tech? Some soft letter, with the word "tech" after it, anyhow. I'm not at all certain what it stands for.

Regardless, I'd be careful about emoting too strongly. Things are liable to happen that you don't expect and probably don't want.

[awitchdidit]

I'll try to reign in my dramatics.

[Emphasis on try.]

However, I have overheard some conversations about there being some kind of competition revolving around S. Tech starting tomorrow. I believe that's why there's so many high school students here.

[callyourname]

Oh, so that's what the noisy place is called... [No, sir, you weren't the only one, who arrived to the arcade.]

[professorwolf]

Yes, I'm afraid so. The place with all the loud games and music and laughing students? That would definitely be the Arcade. I'm sorry if that's where you landed. A tad bit overwhelming.

[callyourname]

You could say that when I come from the year 850 in a world, where humanity is on the verge of extinction... So, they play some kind of games there and see who gets the best score, or what?

[Music? That kind of technology? LAUGHING? Not really happening back home. And yes, this gloomy brat is always amazing at making cheerful conversations.]

Either way, I guess it was a good place to start looking for Eren and Armin.

[Lots of people means many options for finding them but no, so far no luck with that. Please tell her you've seen them. No one's seen them since they're in spaaaaace!]

[shantiprayer]

Sera here! I'm still me! And I was here the last time we Traveled to this world too!

You're right, it's definitely the same. Right down to the uniforms and the insignia for Doki Doki no Gakuen. Uhm, that's the school we were at before.

If anyone has animal features or are the wrong age, don't worry, even if you keep the X Pressure Virus after we go back, you'll be able to switch between the form it gives you and your normal one! Mostly.

Oh, and if you're not marked yet, be careful if PSYCHE-Chan has any Terminals here. Especially if you're not Marked yet. I haven't seen any here yet but they were all over last time. She's an AI, and... I'm fairly certain she's also a Trump.

If anyone needs any help, please let me know. I'd be happy to assist however I can!

[happyhalloween]

Cousin! I mean. Um.

[She's still used to thinking of you as her cousin, Sera. Sorry.]

So I'll get to be big even if I go back? [She is SO EXCITED about this.] Also, how do you know if you're Marked? And is there any way to break her in her terminal? I'm not good with computers.

[shantiprayer]

It's alright, you can call me Sera. Is your real name Maria, or was that just the other you?

I can't promise you'll get to stay older. It's a possibility, but not a guaranty. [Sorry to harsh your buzz, Maria, but probably better that she finds out now instead of being potentially disappointed later.]As for the Trumps. Have you had any new tattoo-like marks appear on your skin? If you have something like that, it's probably a Mark. Psyche-chan... I don't think it's a good idea to try to break her. You remember what happened when we started to break Empress, right?

[awitchdidit]

Wait, it's a disease? Are there any other symptoms we should know about?

[Asking for a friend here.]

[shantiprayer]

Mmmmm, I don't think so. I think it's only classified as a disease because it gets into your data in the same way a virus modifies your cells. It's also contagious. But I don't think there's any direct negative effects?

[professorwolf]

Not marked, though from what I know of Lovers as a card, I'd probably be a terrible fit.

[Considering how low-level pissed off he is about the situation of his love life right now, and it's all due to the Trumps, as far as he's concerned.]

That's the consensus I've heard, that PSYCHE is the Lovers card. I almost hope she shows up, though, to be honest. The more chances to gather information about these Trumps, the better.

[shantiprayer]

If she does, I'll certainly try talking to her again. I wouldn't recommend talking to her if you're unmarked though, even if you don't think she's likely to choose you. ...Unless you want to do what I did and choose who you're marked by instead of being passively Marked as an Infiltrator.

[seestheworld]

I lucked out and ended up in a lobby. We are definitely back in Anime High School Land, although some of these school uniforms are new. We should probably take note of who's in what uniform; I know the one I'm wearing is definitely not from the same school as before.

Oh, and Dara's here, if anyone remembers her from the first go-around.

[awitchdidit]

Ah, hello again.

I'm in a Doki Doki no Gakuen uniform myself. I've counted four unique ones in the hotel...or maybe six or seven, everyone here seems to add frills or untuck their shirts or wear brightly colored jackets or something. Doesn't that defeat the point of a uniform?

[seestheworld]

Hi!

I'm in Tensai no Gakuen, apparently. Which... is not a school I'm familiar with.

[There's a pause while she mulls over Beatrice's statement.]

I think... yes and no? I think it's basically asserting your status as an individual while being overtly part of a group. And I'm not sure how many people here chose their schools in any case.